Faculty members in the Modern Languages Department are committed to promoting international understanding through excellence in foreign language instruction. They all have native or near-native fluency in the languages they teach. In addition, they employ the most up-to-date methods to teach communication skills effectively.

Catalina "Kathleen" Aguilar - Associate Professor, Spanish
Ph.D. Fielding Institute of Santa Barbara
M.A., University of New Mexico
B.A., University of New Mexico

Dr. Aguilar received her M.A. in Spanish American Literature and Linguistics and completed her Ph.D. in Puerto Rican and Peninsular Literature at the Fielding Institute of Santa Barbara. A native of New Mexico, her career at Fort Lewis began as an adjunct instructor, and academic counselor and a tutor coordinator. In addition to teaching, she co-sponsors El Centro de Muchos Colores, chairs the Presidential Council on Hispanic Affairs and facilitates the Innovative Month Program to Spain. Dr. Aguilar was named Fort Lewis College's 1998 Woman of the Year and received Fort Lewis College's 2000-2001 Diversity Faculty Award.

Amy Sellin received her B.A. in Spanish and Latin American Studies and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Hispanic Studies. Her academic interests include nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Venezuelan literature, nineteenth-century Spanish literature, and contemporary women’s writing in Spanish. She has lived in Spain as both a student (at the Universidad del País Vasco) and as a lecturer (in Filología Inglesa at the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela), and has conducted research, led study abroad experiences, and traveled in Mexico, Central America, and South America. Dr. Sellin has also lived and studied in Brazil and Portugal and has taught an enrichment course in Portuguese.

Ellen Hartsfield - Visiting Instructor, French
M.A., College of Notre Dame of Maryland
B.A., University of Pennsylvania

Ellen Hartsfield studied at the University of the Sorbonne in Paris before receiving her Bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1987. She received her Master's degree from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland in 1998. In addition to French, she has taught bilingual math, conversational Spanish, and beginning conversational Modern Greek, among other subjects. She began teaching at Fort Lewis College as an Adjunct Instructor in the fall of 2000, and the following year became a full time Visiting Instructor in French. She has studied a number of languages and enjoys integrating technology into her teaching.

Diego Ubiera's research interests focus on Caribbean Literature and history, cultural studies of the African Diaspora and Latin American intellectual history. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Diego enjoys teaching at all levels of Spanish language and culture.